Destiny's Bride (22 page)

Lone Eagle’s eyes widened as he backed sheepishly out of the lodge.

Cecile sat in the space vacated by her husband, propped against a backrest, holding her child. Her thoughts drifted while he nursed from one side then the other.  How quickly time passed. New Year’s Day had come and gone.  So much had happened in such a short time, and although she loved her new family, she missed her more carefree days back in
Silver City.  Why did such sadness overwhelm her of late?  She gazed down at her sleeping child and breathed a sigh.  His chubby cheeks and little lips still making those suckling movements warmed her.  Her dream had become a reality, so why wasn’t she cherishing each and every moment?

Silence reigned in the lodge, and she sat next to the fire, enjoying the solitude by making another calendar to help track the days. On February twenty second she would be twenty years old.  Like she’d thought earlier about time passing so quickly, what had happened within a year would have stunned most. She’d been a bride, a widow, a bride again and now a mother. Melancholy memories tugged at her heart as images of her parents flashed through her mind, their faces clearly etched there. Her throat burned with unshed tears.

Her emotions were ever changing. One day she was happy, the next sad. Would she ever be normal again? Rain Woman said her feelings were all part of having a child and purely natural. Giving in to the hollow feeling, Cecile let her tears flow.

Rain Woman’s voice sounded outside, snapping Cecile back to reality. Not wanting to explain why she cried, she brushed the wetness from her cheeks and bid her friend enter. The peace and quiet Cecile relished a few minutes ago wasn’t nearly as precious as Rain Woman’s timely appearance. 

“I came to check on the baby.” The old woman rubbed her leathery hands together and looked lovingly upon the sleeping child.

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Grandmother.” Cecile gave her a hug.

Rain Woman smiled her familiar toothless grin. “A little bird told me you might need some company.”

Much like Lone Eagle, Rain Woman seemed to read Cecile’s mind, and what she needed more than anything was someone to help her understand things.

As if on cue, Two Clouds woke, and despite his mother’s attempts to quiet him, he flailed his arms and legs and howled with displeasure.

Rain Woman took him from Cecile, and the child immediately quieted.

“How come he’s happier when you hold him? Oh, Un`ci, he doesn’t like me.” Despair brought a quiver to Cecile’s voice.

“He senses your nervousness. As with all things new, it takes time to adjust. As you become more comfortable, he will, too.” She handed him back to his mother.  “I must go.  I have a feverish child to tend.”  She patted Two Clouds’ chubby leg and left.

Rain Woman was right, Cecile was nervous when she held Two Clouds. Who wouldn’t be with a screaming and squirming mass? She had no experience with children and he looked so small and fragile.  Irked at his contentment in the arms of another, she declared to try harder, but the moment the old woman left, he began fussing once again despite having a full tummy and a dry bottom.

   The baby ate, slept, and cried some more before finally retiring for the night. Cecile was so tired she fell asleep before her husband returned, but she woke with a start. The rising sun lit the lodge, and Two Clouds hadn’t cried to be fed.

She elbowed her husband. “Oh my God, Lone Eagle, wake up, wake up! Something is wrong with the baby.”

Still half-asleep and incoherent, Lone Eagle rolled off the pallet and crawled to the cradleboard. “He’s just sleeping.”

Cecile rose and gazed at her son, relieved to see him sucking his little thumb with content. “I did ask God to make him sleep more and eat less, so I guess my prayers were answered.” She smiled and turned over, seizing the opportunity to rest.

Coming back to lie next to her, Lone Eagle stroked her hair and reminded her that her love for him hadn’t dimmed one bit. “When we can make love once again, I am going to ravage your body with kisses from head to toe, and bring you to heights your body may have forgotten.”

It seemed like forever since Lone Eagle had held her. He almost acted like he was afraid to touch her. She longed to be held and kissed, but she was so tired.

“Hmm, just having your arms around me is good enough for now.” She nestled against the curves of his body and drifted off to sleep.

Lone Eagle’s erection caused by his own vivid threats refused to wilt. He snaked his arm from beneath Cecile’s head and turned over, hoping to ease his discomfort.  Her soft intake and release of air caused a vibration through his back, and he rolled to his other side. She turned over, facing him and assailing his face with warm, sweet breath. Gazing upon her angelic face was more than he could take.  He shimmied off their sleeping pallet, dressed and planned to visit his parents for breakfast.  He stepped into the nippy morning with the attitude of a lover spurned.  “You aren’t the only one who is suffering,” he mumbled as he smoothed the front of his buckskins and gazed around at a quiet village. 

***

The winter showed signs of dying out. The days grew longer and the weather warmer. Lone Eagle returned to his daily routine, and Cecile still filled her days with caring for the baby. Sick of ‘cabin fever,’ she was ready to see sunshine, flowers, and green grass again. The snow melted away, exposing the bounty of new greenery beneath. Cecile’s good humor returned, and Two Clouds had become a pudgy little bundle of cheer and giggles. Rain Woman and Singing Sparrow were constant visitors, but Two Clouds remained unspoiled despite the fact that he was the center of everyone’s attention.

Cecile strapped the cradleboard on her back and joined Rain Woman to forage for herbs and roots. Spending time with the old woman provided great enjoyment, and Cecile always learned something. Rain Woman stooped and scanned the ground for medicinal leaves, amazing Cecile with her knowledge of where things grew.

“Look, little one, the melting snow reveals a bounty for our near-exhausted medicine pouch.” Rain Woman brushed away the remaining slush.

“That’s wonderful, Grandmother. Everything is wonderful. Listen to Two Clouds. He thrives on the fresh air, and when he hears the other children playing, he giggles.”

Since becoming a mother and finally finding escape in the outdoors, Cecile felt even more like part of the tribe. The women befriended her, making a special effort to speak when they met.

All except one.

The hate-filled looks Spotted Doe gave Cecile the few times they crossed paths of late were a grim reminder not everyone liked her.

Winter had made it hard to socialize, but now everyone emerged from isolation like the flowers blooming around the perimeter of the camp. The women chattered away at the stream, enjoying feminine company and good weather. Those who hadn’t seen Two Clouds came to visit and brought things for the baby. The amount of gifts she received was almost like Christmas all over again.

Her thoughts of the holiday stirred a memory. With all the excitement of the night, she’d never given Lone Eagle the pouch she’d made. Now where had she put it?  Instead of searching, she continued being a courteous hostess, and making small talk with her visitors.

After the last guest left, she remembered where the pouch was and dug through the stack of extra blankets where she’d hidden it. Just as she uncovered it, Lone Eagle entered. She stood, holding her secret behind her back, and gave him a mischievous smile. “Welcome home, my husband.”

Her teasing voice clouded his eyes with confusion but he craned his neck to see what she held.

Cecile backed away, trying to keep the pouch hidden, but Lone Eagle grabbed her arm and spun her around so quickly she lost her balance and fell onto the bed. Lone Eagle dove next to her, still yanking at her arm to see what was in her hand. They wrestled, filling the lodge with laughter and building her desire.  Her intention of surprising her husband with her handicraft was pushed aside by her need to show him something more.

Two Clouds slept close by. Cecile put her finger to her lips in a shushing motion. “We don’t want to wake the baby and spoil the moment.”

Lone Eagle flashed a knowing smile and gathered his wife in his arms. With a passionate, long overdue kiss, he explored her mouth with his tongue and her body with eager hands. The urges that had been restrained were released as they made love for the first time since the baby’s birth. The first time was followed by a second and third.

His energy spent, Lone Eagle made no mention of dinner and began to snore. Cecile reached out and pushed the pouch beneath the pallet; she’d give him the gift another day. The passion of lovemaking had worn her out, too. She rolled against Lone Eagle and nestled against his back. Enjoying the familiar closeness and warmth, she fell asleep with a smile of contentment on her face.

Chapter Twenty-Two

With the changing of the seasons came time to move back to the plains.  Cecile gathered their belongings to secure to a contraption Singing Sparrow and other women would help her build.  They called it a travois and from the description, sounded like a buckboard without the wheels and seat. She couldn’t fathom making anything, let alone this travois thing, but her mother-in-law assured her it wasn’t as difficult as it sounded.  Once the tepee was disassembled, the long support poles would provide the structure.  Even taking apart their lodge posed an overwhelming task. Try as she might, Cecile couldn’t understand the need to move from this place she loved.

“Lone Eagle, I don’t understand why we have to leave here. This is our home. The mountains give us safety that wide open land doesn’t provide.”

“Green Eyes, I know you have come to feel secure and happy in this place, but we must go where the herds of buffalo graze.  The fruit, grains, fish and other food we need are there, as well.”

“Why? You’ve done well on your hunts here. Deer are plentiful.”

“Yes, our hunting has been good, but there is more to our survival than food. The buffalo provides far more than meat. Nothing is wasted when a kill is made. What we don’t eat, we use for coverings for the lodges, blankets, robes, cooking utensils, sinew for our bows… too many things to count.”

“I had no idea. How many will you slay to make all of those things?”

“The Sioux respect every living thing and never take an animal’s life needlessly. We will kill only what we need to survive.”

“When does the buffalo hunt take place?”

“When we are settled on the plains, many tribes will join us in celebration of the Sun Dance. Afterwards, we will hunt together.”

Cecile’s thoughts were suddenly filled with the remembrance of Rain Woman’s description of a buffalo hunt. Daring braves dart in and out of the charging herd, forcing the buffalo into a circle. Other braves wait to shoot until the animals are close enough. Once they’ve slain a sufficient amount, the women are expected to help butcher.

When Rain Woman first told the story, Cecile couldn’t imagine handling the entrails of a dead animal. So far she managed to escape butchering anything, but she supposed the deer hides she’d been scraping were good preparation for what was to come.

“What is the Sun Dance?” There was still so much she didn’t know.

“During the twelve-day celebration, tribes gather to honor the Great Spirit. We dance to thank him for his many blessings. Many braves will participate. Their bodies will be painted in symbols and colors, and they will go without food and water.   Those like me who have already participated in communing with Wakan Tanka will only fast and dance, while others will have their chests pierced with skewers and hang from the sacred Sun Dance pole until their skin breaks free.  It is during this time those men will receive direction from the Great Spirit.

Lone Eagle bore the scars on his body to prove his day of the dance, and by the way his chest puffed with pride while describing the festivities, he'd been a worthy participant. She couldn’t imagine what would drive someone to go through such a test, and her body shivered at the thought of hanging from a pole by her skin. “Isn’t there more to the Sun Dance than that?”

“Of course,” Lone Eagle continued. “The ceremony is an opportunity to visit with those from the other tribes who we see only once a year. Just think of the new friends you will make. The Sun Dance is a festive time enjoyed and revered by the entire tribe.”

Thinking ahead to summer proved difficult. Cecile’s mind meandered back to the move and the changes coming in her life. She worried about being responsible for reconstructing their lodge in their new camp, but then reasoned that with help anything was possible. She counted all the things she’d already learned. Laundry was among them, and she had even more to do now because of the baby.

“Before we leave, I will wash our clothing one more time.” 

“While you tend to that, I will go check with my father to see when we are going to leave.”  Lone Eagle left before she had a chance to inquire about him watching the baby.

***

She walked back from the stream with the Two Clouds secured on her back and the laundry basket perched on her hip. Feeling her son’s increasing weight, she craned her neck to see his little profile. “Little one, I can certainly tell you are growing. Pretty soon you will have to carry me.”